Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB500/550 => Topic started by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on November 24, 2023, 06:26:26 PM
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Purists do not read beyond this point.
As some folk will know I have fitted a LED unit to my 500 - good old google has come up with a suggestion that I might like this retro P700 type lamp.
Just wondered if anyone here has fitted one - a bit cheaper than the DS unit - not sure what the beam pattern would be like.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53353286286_9694a880b3_o.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2phDxdj)P 700 (https://flic.kr/p/2phDxdj) by Macabe Thiele (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187487200@N03/), on Flickr
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Looks to be just a normal 7" headlight with a H4 bulb fitted. I've had a Cibie Z beam headlight fitted since the late 70s, that's a H4 bulb type but with a special lens to help focus the beam pattern better. So long as the electrical system is in good working order it should be fine. I personally would fit an LED bulb in there instead of the H4 to reduce the electrical draw.
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I would think cheaper units are available if you are not worried about originality. I got a unit with the correct side dip and the pilot fitting, but can't remember if it included bulbs, for £8.99 inc. delivery off ebay a couple of years ago Looks good enough on my 78 model.
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That internal Tripod and centre button is what appeals to me as retro.
If they were still made today I would fit a Carello Pajod parabolic reflector units - far better than the Cibie version back in the day imho. They were fitted in E-types back in the late 1960s as an upgrade
At that time Cibie headlamp lens was concave whereas the Carell was a bug eyed version with a deep parabolic shaped reflector.
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Quite a few poor review out there for those Ted.
Wrong alignment of lugs, bulb location etc. Plus soft resolution of flutes in glass pressing that appear to give generally mushy beam pattern and light control.
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I'll stick with my fully LED unit for now - truth is like riding in the rain that is mostly avoidable , riding in the dark is no fun as I get older.
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Quite a few poor review out there for those Ted.
Wrong alignment of lugs, bulb location etc. Plus soft resolution of flutes in glass pressing that appear to give generally mushy beam pattern and light control.
Hardly surprising for a lamp that was made by Lucas and fitted to TR's in 1956!
I doubt an out of patent copy version will be up to modern standards.
Iirc the originals had the tripod from the center recessed on the outside if the glass lens.